Skip to main content

Dehydration in Elderly Adults – Why It Happens and How to Prevent It

Do you know…almost half of all older adults are chronically under-hydrated, as reported by a new scientific study conducted at UCLA? Not just that, but elderly adults over age 65 represent the highest category of hospital admissions as a result of dehydration.

Dehydration can easily sneak up on older adults, who usually have a reduced sensation of thirst, who can experience medication side effects that cause hydration problems, or who incorrectly think that drinking less will lessen incontinence issues.

Senior dehydration can be extremely harmful, raising the risk for health concerns including:

  • UTIs
  • Kidney stones and/or failure
  • Blood clots
  • Seizures
  • Hypovolemic shock
  • And numerous others

Dehydration is generally detected according to the following symptoms:

Early stages:

  • Reduced amount/darker-colored urine
  • Dry mouth
  • Feelings of weakness, dizziness, and/or exhaustion
  • Muscle cramps
  • Irritability

Advanced stages:

  • Confusion and disorientation, such as difficulty with walking
  • Low blood pressure and diminished, faster pulse and breathing
  • Stomach bloating
  • Sunken, dry eyes
  • Skin that is wrinkled without any elasticity
  • Intensified muscle cramps and contractions, and/or convulsions

Although we frequently pay more attention to hydration if the temperature is high, it is essential for older adults to drink sufficient fluids all through the year. An easy formula to determine how much, on average, a senior loved one should drink on a daily basis is to divide the older adult’s body weight by 3, and have him or her consume that many ounces of water. For instance, if a senior loved one weighs 180 pounds, he or she would need to have a minimum of 60 ounces of water every single day.

Try these strategies to ensure the seniors you adore stay healthy and hydrated:

  • Plain water is ideal but consider other sources of fluids such as soup, juice, fruits, and vegetables. However, abstain from sugary and caffeinated beverages.
  • Place bottled water, or a small pitcher of ice water and a cup, near the older adult to prompt him or her to sip on it through the day.
  • Test a variety of temperatures. Often times a warmed cup of water is more comforting than an icy one. You may want to try warming up juice and various other beverages to find out if they are more appealing, or offer popsicles.

The experienced in-home caregivers at Heaven At Home Senior Care are experienced in imaginative approaches to help older adults stay hydrated, and in monitoring fluid intake to make certain sufficient fluids are consumed each day. Reach out to us at 866-381-0500 in order to learn how we can help enhance quality of life for senior loved ones with our specialized home health care Plano, TX and the surrounding areas depend on for quality senior care right within the comfort and familiarity of home.

The post Dehydration in Elderly Adults – Why It Happens and How to Prevent It appeared first on Heaven at Home Care.



from Heaven at Home Care https://ift.tt/2GlLqi9
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Connection Between Aging, Exercise, and Healthy Lungs

Enjoying a long and healthy retirement requires taking good care of yourself. While many people focus on living a heart-smart lifestyle, taking proactive steps to maintain healthy lungs is essential, too. As we age, the lungs become weaker and less flexible. This can contribute to a variety of diseases and chronic health conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , lung-related illnesses are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country. That includes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma—adding up to nearly 235,000 deaths a year. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your lungs healthy: Stop smoking. Talk with your primary care physician about smoking cessation programs. Avoid secondhand smoke. Research shows it can be just as deadly as being a smoker. Stay away from harsh chemicals. It’s important to avoid breathing in damaging fumes (e.g., home cleaners and weed killers). Prevent infections. Many infections can lead to
Post a Comment
Read more

How You Can Join the Fight Against Alzheimer’s

World Alzheimer’s Month in September is an opportunity to raise awareness about this complex disease and to challenge the stigmas surrounding dementia. Launched in 2012, the awareness month spotlights the fact that 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little understanding of dementia in their countries. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and it is the 6 th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual report. With the senior population growing quickly, Alzheimer’s and dementia cases will continue to increase as well, unless researchers can find a cure. This upcoming Monday, Sept. 21, is World Alzheimer’s Day, a call to action for all of us to educate ourselves on how to take preventative steps, identify symptoms and support loved ones who have been diagnosed. Read more below to learn how to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. Know the Warning Signs Detecting Alzheimer’s disease e
Post a Comment
Read more

Film Screening at Samvedna Senior Care

On 30th September, 2019, Samvedna Senior Care Foundation hosted the 2nd film festival of generations in association with Heidelberg University, Germany. The film Sputnik Moment – 30 years and beyond was screened at our senior citizen centre in Gurgaon for our members and staff. The film highlighted how senior citizens in Germany and the US were taking up second careers to fill their time, engage meaningfully and also get support through additional income. Post the screening Dr. Martin Gieselmann, Executive Secretary, SAI, Heidelberg University and Dr. Constanze, Coordinator DAAD Project, Heidelberg University along with our team engaged with the audience in an interesting discussion on the Indian scenario. Members shared that in India it is not easy for senior citizens to pick up jobs after retirement, however it was interesting to see that many in the audience did have jobs post retirement. They also spoke about stereotypes and social attitudes towards ageing and shared their per
Post a Comment
Read more